In Him We Live: Thirty Thoughts for Life, #1

By Robert Lavala

Each and every day we are faced with unique challenges that allow us to portray our relationship with Christ in our own way. This devotional series is intended to help you fortify your faith with scriptures, helpful insights, and encouragements so we are better prepared for this life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert Lavala
• Release date: Nov 23, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386700685

Book preview

    In Him

          We Live

Thirty Thoughts for Life

Volume One

In Him We Live by Robert Lavala published by

Robert Lavala Studios, Moyie Springs, ID 83845.

http://books.robertlavala.com

© 2017 Robert Lavala

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

All Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB) unless otherwise noted, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Cover by Robert Lavala Studios

Captivity

IN the Battle

Listen to  Someone Smart

A River

Make Hay while the Sun is Shining

Are You Hungry?

Are You Weary?

Just Do It... NOW

Kindness

Yes or No

Sometimes a Seer

L.I.F.E.

Don't Ignore the Ick

Inspiration

Angelic Intervention

We Should Laugh

What Do You Want?

Be Quiet or...

Unity

Today's Challenge

His Voice

Jesus Knew

Honoring Tradition

Approval

Submission

Battle

Wanna Bet?

Look Around

Compassion

Recognition

Captivity

Slavery has been around ever since the first person on the earth began writing about history.

One of the most infamous stories of this terrible act of injustice was when the Egyptians held the Israelites in captivity and forced them to build their great cities. They were slaves both in labor camps and in private homes to the Egyptians.

It is hard to imagine that for approximately thirty generations the Israelites were slaves in Egypt. I'm pretty sure that all throughout the history of our world that many other cultures have been slaves for even longer than that. As a matter of fact, I bet there are whole cultures that revolve around slavery with no thoughts of ever being free.

The culture inside a prison conditions a person so that when they get out, they cannot function in society. Slavery is much like this type of programming. After hundreds of years freedom is nothing but an illusion that cannot be grasped.

Many who serve their time and get out of prison cannot cope and end up either committing a new crime to go back inside or they suffer mental problems and quite often commit suicide.

Being a captive, in the negative sense, is not a good thing and can condition you to repeat a negative life progression without any hope.

This is where we must have the help of the Lord to break the curse of an oppressive captivity and be set free.

Do you know that you can be a captive to an oppressive job? You can also be captive to false mindsets that cause you to think negatively about who you are and who the Lord IS. We must ask for His help in breaking free from this oppression and be led to the promised land.

Luke 4:14-18 - Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Reports about Him spread quickly through the whole region. He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When He came to the village of Nazareth, His boyhood home, He went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to Him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: 'The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, for He has anointed Me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.' NLT

Take a minute and ask Papa if there are areas you are a slave to. Listen, be honest with yourself, identify recurring struggles that have you bound.

Be FREE. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

IN the Battle

There are days and even weeks when it seems that life is a battle. Even the smallest things become difficult and at every turn, you may feel that even the Universe itself is against you.

The list of things you must 'get done,' is an indictment threatening to put you in an emotional prison and your motivation is at an all-time low. Thank God that this battle is not a life or death proposition.

Fast-forward a minute or two when you tell someone who believes in the Lord about your struggle.

They, if not sensitive to Holy Spirit, will immediately begin to assault you with faith scriptures to tell you that the battle is the Lord's and you are more than an overcomer! Friends like this quickly become an annoyance that you could live without. They are an irritant that only adds to the struggle and you come away feeling even more discouraged than before the encouragement.

Here is what I'd like for you to know. EVERYONE goes through times when it doesn't seem possible to win the battle.

Everyone must endure and push through because, really, what is the alternative. We ALL face struggles in our lives and barely any of those struggles, if not overcome